At Least 25% of Deceased Former NFL Players Had CTE, Study Finds

A significant portion of former NFL players suffer from a debilitating brain disease, according to a new study. Research published in the British Medical Journal indicates that at least one in four players who died between 2016 and 2021 had chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a progressive neurodegenerative condition.

The study, which examined the brains of 1,712 former players who died between 2008 and 2021, found that 97.7% of those whose brains were donated from 2016 to 2021 showed signs of CTE. This disease is directly linked to the cumulative effect of repeated head impacts sustained during their careers.

Researchers made a conservative projection, estimating that a minimum of 24.5% of all athletes studied likely had CTE, even accounting for players whose brains were not donated. Symptoms of CTE can include difficulties with balance, speech, and coordination, as well as Parkinson's-like tremors and rigidity. The study also noted a strong correlation between CTE severity and cognitive decline, with nearly 60% of analyzed donors diagnosed with dementia during their lives, typically appearing around age 63.

While awareness of CTE has grown, definitive diagnosis remains impossible during a player's lifetime, and no effective treatments currently exist. In response to the growing concerns, the NFL has implemented some changes, including mandating 'guardian caps' during practices since 2022 and allowing their use in games from 2024. The league has also modified rules to reduce head contact, such as altering the kickoff play, considered one of the sport's most dangerous. Furthermore, the NFL established a fund in 2015 that has since surpassed $1 billion to compensate and provide medical care for former players and their families affected by head-impact-related conditions.